Representing the continuation of the groupwork, as well as the first major weeklong engineering challenge in a team, the mini sculpture involves the creation of a mechanism that, from a sensor input, moves a motor and manipulates a marble in an interesting or technically impressive manner. In addition, the mini-sculpture must feature a human interaction element within the creation, allowing for other people to control the sculpture’s mechanism themselves. 

Each team designed, protyped, coded, simulated, and built their structures from marble track pipe pieces and lego technic parts. This resulted in the graceful, yet occasionally haphazard marriage between Lego NXT and pipe sculptures. Following a period of extensive prototyping and design, each team worked to finalize their planned designs, generating simulations in working model 2D, as well as pugh charts, risk analysis tables, and all manner of analysis graphics. 

Following the selection and testing of a design, every team divided itself based on specialities and set to work, as the group was expected to complete not just a coded and fully built mechanism, but create a presentation-worthy website, complete analysis using working model 2D, and document each process, design change, challenge, and the intricate workings of the mechanism. 

To prepare for the full sculptures built during the last week of COSMOS, teams presented the website and mechanism to the teaching assistants, which was later followed by a full presentation to the professor. While some mechanisms fell short, code failed to compile, and websites unable to properly display, each team was able to successfully display their efforts for the week, and received not just constructive feedback on their efforts, but new experiences and technical skills through mutual cooperation towards a shared goal.